Atletico Madrid are reportedly seeking a swap deal with Real Madrid for Theo Hernandez, demanding Marco Llorente in return for the defender.
Spanish publication Marca have reported that Atletico Madrid are demanding a swap deal with Real Madrid for their defender Theo Hernandez, asking for Los Blancos defensive midfielder Marcos Llorente in the left-back’s stead.
Llorente has progressed through the ranks at Real Madrid after joining the club’s youth division in 2008. He made his senior debut for Los Blancos last season, but after he struggled for first team opportunities, the 22-year-old was sent out on loan to newly promoted Deportivo Alaves at the start of the campaign.
The move has worked wonders for Llorente, as he has established himself as a mainstay midfield for Alaves, making them a solid proposition for opposition attacks with his tenacity. The no-nonsense midfielder has kept things tight and tidy in the centre of the park, playing 30 times in all competitions for the Basque club.
He has also managed to record 3 assists in the process, but most impressively he is started to be rated as one of the best midfielders playing in Spain currently. As a result, there are growing expectations that he will return to the Santiago Bernabeu next season to give Casemiro a run for his money.
However, if Real Madrid’s capital rivals Atletico Madrid have their way then he could soon be turning out for Los Rojiblancos instead of the Blancos. Real Madrid are showing keen interest in signing Atletico left-back Theo Hernandez next season, as a result of which they are demanding they let Llorente go the other way.
Hernandez has been another one of the many success stories for Alaves in their return to the Spanish top flight this season, charging up and down the left flank and being a menace for the opposition attacks and defences alike.
With his stock rising by each passing week, he is becoming a highly sought after defender ahead of the reopening of the transfer window in June. Liverpool and Barcelona have registered an interest in signing Hernandez in the summer, but Real Madrid have raced clear in his pursuit, ready to pay his €24 million release clause.
However, they will also be breaking their “non-aggression pact” with Atletico, which has reportedly left Los Rojiblancos seething. Atletico are, thus, asking for Llorente in return of Hernandez, even though they are unwilling to let the teenager go to their rivals.
Llorente has previously insisted that he will never wear the red and white of Atletico as he intends to remain a Real Madrid player all his life, and it remains to be seen if either transfer takes place with the former complicating matters.
